Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Members of this House and members of the public that when this department decides to cancel any government tenders, it’s based on strong merits, it’s based on a financial decision, and this decision was based on a financial position that the tender came in way too high – 2 per cent way too high. This had nothing to do with any other issues. It’s just that the prices were way too high.

Mr. Speaker, the final decision to cancel the contract was made with the deputy minister.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to say to the Member that we received the request from the community of Aklavik. We are considering it within our plans in terms of our priorities, and we’ll look at that. Again, I’m very pleased to see that the community of Aklavik has actually put a number down to contribute to this project. That deals well within the department in terms of a partnership on certain projects.

Mr. Speaker, the Nahanni Butte road program is a public access road program. The Aklavik road is a community access road program. I would work with the Members here in terms of the issue with Aklavik in terms of seeing what could be done, and I would have to take this up with my colleagues in terms of these programs. There are two different programs we’re looking at in terms of this issue.

Air transportation is a critical service in the Northwest Territories. In many N.W.T. communities, airport support is the only real mode of transportation for residents and for bringing community re-supplies. Having a runway of the appropriate length provides the opportunity for air carriers to use the most appropriate type of aircraft to serve the N.W.T. communities.

Recognizing the importance of continuing to look at means to improve air services and to ensure continued compliance with Government of Canada aviation regulations, I am pleased to advise Members that the Department of...

Mr. Speaker, that’s a hypothetical question, and I’m not too sure. I’d have to speak with my colleagues in terms of what the cabinet’s or the government’s position on this question here.

The cancellation of the contracts was based on the fact that the price almost tripled, in terms of the required work that was done.

Bid bonds are sometimes required on some of the contracts they do within the Department of Transportation. We are removing the bid bonds from the re-scoping of the new tender’s work, in that we’re not going to require bid requirements on the re-tendering of this contract.

The prices were too high, and with the processing system inside the department, the contract was cancelled by the headquarters.

Mr. Chairman, the department is going through their inventory. They are looking at the culverts in and around this area, in terms of 1973, and they are looking at all the culverts in the Northwest Territories. They are looking at what it will cost to replace them, and they’re updating information and reprioritizing some of the work that they have to do with regard to the culverts. There are another 54 bridged culverts, as noted, needing some form of rehabilitation.

They are looking at their costing, as the Premier alluded to. There is a process we’re going to enter into, looking to replace or...

Mr. Speaker, the Member brings up a very interesting proposal. With all the infrastructure in the Northwest Territories in terms of the Peel River crossing, the Mackenzie crossing, the Bear crossing, we have some models out there. We have industry wanting to come in.

This department is looking for partnerships in terms of improving our infrastructure down the Mackenzie Valley, the Beaufort, in through the South Slave. We’re looking for partnerships. I’m interested in looking at partnerships. I’m interested in sitting down with the Member for Mackenzie Delta, with cabinet here, and looking at...